Ch.1: The Perfect Golden Arrow

It has been about three months since Discord's defeat. Inside Ponyville Library/Twilight Sparkle's home, the violet Unicorn was working on a project involving an old arrow she had found. She had cleaned it up, of course, should it have any germs that would cause any illnesses.

"Now, let's see…" she said, looking into the old tome where she found the spell for the arrow. "Add one cup of dried rose petals…stir until mixture has turned red." Using the magic of her horn, Twilight poured said cup of dried rose petals into the bowl of glittering white liquid. She then stirred the mixture with a wooden spoon and watched it until it began glowing a passionate red.

"There we go," she said, removing the spoon before looking into the book again. "Now I just need to lay the arrow into the mixture…let it sit until arrow starts glowing." She then took the arrow and slowly laid it into the mixture until it was completely underneath the surface.

"I just hope I got the mixture right," Twilight said to herself as she watched the arrow. "I'm running low on starpiece dust." She knows she could've asked Spike or Owliscious for help, but Rarity's borrowing the little dragon because she's running low on rubies and sapphires, and said owl is at Fluttershy's for a check-up. If she messes up the mixture for this spell, Twilight will have to go out for more starpiece dust and leave a note for her two assistants should they get back before she does.

She perked up with a smile when she saw the arrow emit a glow within the liquid. It worked perfectly. With the magic of her horn, Twilight carefully lifted the arrow out of the liquid and saw that it is now made of pure gold.

"I did it!" she cheered, marveling at her work. "I've perfected it!" As she was celebrating her success, Rarity and Spike came in with a wagon full of red and blue jewels.

"What, exactly, did you perfect, darling Twilight?" she asked before seeing the golden arrow. "Oh, my! Such wonderful crafts-mare-ship you have done, dear! If you need a few jewels to make it more dazzling, Spike and I have some extra rubies we could lend you." Twilight chuckled in reply.

"Thanks, Rarity," she said to the beautiful Unicorn, "but this arrow isn't just any form of crafts-mare-ship. This is the perfect magical replica of the Golden Arrow of Eros." Spike arched a confused eyebrow.

"Who?"

"You know, Spike," Rarity answered. "Cupid. He shoots these fine arrows at mortals to get them to fall in love with the first mortal they see." Hearing this, Spike perked up like an ideal light bulb just flashed on above his head.

"Spike, don't get any ideas!" Twilight warned him. The light bulb shattered as his face fell.

"Rats…" he grumbled. Rarity became confused, obviously not knowing about his late plan.

"What?" she asked. "What was he thinking?" Spike face flushed up like crazy, too nervous to tell the violet-maned Unicorn his feelings for her.

"Uh, nothing," he quickly said. "Just a few, uh…pairings."

"Why, Spike," she replied with a smile. "I have no idea you're a romantic. And I thought you were adorable before, you wittle cutie, you." Spike let out a lovestruck sigh as Rarity rubbed her nose into his for an Eskimo kiss. Twilight just rolled her eyes in reply.

"Anyway," she said to the two of them as she put the arrow into one of her saddle packs, "I'm thinking about giving this to Princess Celestia. Maybe she could put it on display at a museum or something. You know, to give anypony who visits it an idea on what Eros' Love Arrow looks like."

"That sounds like great ide—BURP!" Spike was suddenly cut off when he belched out a scroll from the High Princess herself.

"Goodness!" Rarity said as Twilight picked up the scroll and started reading it. "There has got to be a better way for you to deliver the Princess' letters to Twilight. Last I heard, you've been belching so much of her friendship reports, you've ended up with an upset stomach."

"Please don't remind me," the little dragon groaned, clutching his stomach. "I feel nauseous just thinking about it." He then stood up straight when Twilight spoke up, sounding very much alarmed.

"Rarity! Spike!" she cried, using her magic to put her pack on her back. "We have to go get the girls! Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are calling us to Canterlot urgently!"

"What happened?" asked the shocked Spike.

"I know you're not gonna believe this but…" the bright violet Unicorn answered with fear, "Discord's back!"